The Residents Associations of Epsom and Ewell

Local people working together for our local community

Origins     RA Councillors     How an RA works     List of RAs, Chairmen, and Secretaries     SCORA    

Origins

The local politics of Epsom & Ewell have for a good part of the twentieth century been bound up with an almost unique form of democratic process. With the enormous expansion of housing in the 1930s local residents' associations were formed to enable residents a forum for local debate, to organise social activities on the new estates and to represent local views. At the beginning of the 20th century many candidates for election to local government stood as independents. With increasing party-politicisation of national and local government, Epsom & Ewell stood out against the tide. The residents' associations themselves put up candidates for election to both Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, and their candidates have been in control for over 60 years. Of the 5 county councillors elected, 4 are R.A. and only 1 Liberal Democrat. Epsom & Ewell is the only borough controlled by independents in the South-East and, because of the R.A.s, needed a special colour to be represented on the latest The Times map of local government.

R.A. Councillors

R.A. councillors, although all independents, work closely with their own R.A.s and feed through local concerns into the decision-making process. They remain representatives, not delegates.

Most Borough work in done in council committees. There are no shadow political groupings which proceed these meetings and decisions are reached after full and free debate. A single councillor can request that a decision is taken by the full Borough Council by making it a "recommendation". Full council meetings are preceded by a private meeting of the R.A. Councillors Group, and other political groupings on the Council hold similar meetings. However, the R.A.-controlled Council has no leader and there is no whipping of councillors. Every one is free to represent his/her and their residents' points of view and vote accordingly. Many debates genuinely sway opinion one way or another with the free vote at the end being the purest form of representative democracy.

An R.A. councillor may of course hold political views on national politics. If he/she is to be nominated for election then those views should be subordinated to local concerns. By and large, this has led to a Borough Council which better reflects a cross section of political views than one controlled by a particular party.

On the Local Government Association R.A. Councillor Ron Gee leads the Group of Independent Councillors which gives the concept of independence in local government at a national level.

How an R.A. works

Each R.A. functions as a voluntary and independent unincorporated association. Any resident can become a member without regard to his/her political views. In some parts of the Borough more than 80% of households join their local R.A., receive its magazine or newsletter, and are able to attend meetings.

An R.A.'s chief officers are, typically, a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who run the committee, with a President who conducts general meetings of members. There is generally an Editor for the magazine or newsletter, and other officers depending on how the R.A.'s work is divided up. There are also ordinary committee members and the full Committee usually meets monthly, with a general meeting of all members once or twice a year. At the annual general meeting officers and the committee will be elected.

As well as its committee an R.A. will have local representatives, perhaps one for each road in its area. These road or zone representatives are responsible for keeping their ear to the ground and feeding through the views or concerns of their local residents, as well as collecting subscriptions and delivering newsletters.

Both borough and county R.A. councillors will attend R.A. committee and general meetings to enable council policy and actions to be explained, questioned and influenced. It is this frequent interchange that distinguishes the workings of an R.A. and its councillors from party-political councillors., where only the party faithful can attend meetings and influence their councillors, and where their councillors may be whipped to toe the party line and ignore the views of their electors.

The Residents Associations

The twelve principal Residents Associations in Epsom and Ewell are listed below. Full details
including the areas covered and each RA's officers from whom further information may be
obtained www.epsom-ewell.co.uk.